Banish Shutter Shock Blur

BANISH  IMAGE BLUR DUE TO SHUTTER SHOCK

Panasonic G5 eShutter fixes the problem

Author AndrewS  November 2012

Introduction   This is the third article I have published on this blog about the effects of shutter shock on image sharpness in mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras and Micro Four Thirds cameras in particular.

In my previous report of the issue, I predicted that the eShutter now available on the Panasonic G5 camera would solve the problem.  It does.

Test   I repeated the previous test protocol. Panasonic G5 camera, Panasonic 100-300 mm lens at 300 mm, tripod mounted, 2 second timer delay, Shutter Priority mode, AF on each frame, OIS off.  Shutter speeds ranged from 1/5 sec to 1/800 sec. I made one series with the mechanical shutter, a second series with eShutter.

Results  With the mechanical shutter slight softness began at 1/40 sec, becoming more marked at 1/50 sec. Worst results with blurring and image doubling ocurred at 1/125 and 1/160 sec, just as previously reported with the GH2 and EM5 cameras.

With the eShutter all the frames were sharp. In the range from 1/20 to 1/40 sec the eShutter files were slightly sharper than those made with the mechanical shutter.

Conclusion  eShutter works as expected.  I recommend use of the eShutter for shutter speeds between 1/20 and 1/200 second. I use the eShutter whenever the camera is on a tripod.

Mechanical shutter, 1/160 sec

eShutter, 1/160 sec

Disadvantages of the eShutter  The eShutter works by scanning the frame, a process taking 0.1 second. As a result any subject which moves in relation to the camera during the 0.1 sec scan may exhibit shape distortion. For the same reason electronic flash cannot be used. [flash duration is much shorter than scan time]. In addition for reasons unknown to me maximum ISO is limited to 1600 and  the slowest shutter speed available is 1 sec.